PHOENIX -- Thirty-seven illegal immigrants and eight human smugglers were found Tuesday after an alert police officer followed a suspicious man to a house in west Phoenix, authorities said.

Dozens of illegal immigrants found in the house near 65th Avenue and Thomas Road were wearing nothing but shorts or underwear, said Sgt. Joel Tranter.

"That's typical of what we see in some drop houses that are run by coyotes," Tranter said. "Coyotes will actually threaten the occupants, keep them barefoot and therefore, in theory, they are less likely to flee. They are unable to run as easily from the house."

Of the 37, three were women, three were male juveniles and the others were older men. All of them were identified as Mexican nationals.

Tranter said everyone seemed to be in reasonably good health. One of the immigrants had to be transported to the hospital for medical treatment. "He complained of some kind of neck pain and medical distress, a non-life-threatening injury," Tranter said.

The case was turned over to the anti-human smuggling "impact" team.